Category Archives: Blush

I finally got my hands on some of the Spring Collection after a wonderful Valentines’ Day promotion where they gave the Travel Palette as a gift with purchase (over $100).

Swatch of the Unmask Palette Pink

Swatch of P Soft Pink 324 (left) & P Soft Coral 332 (right)

I’m not a huge fan of the Unmask Palette Pink as the brown seemed off on me as it has a reddish tone. I’m still undecided on the blushes as they are very subtle. So subtle that I wonder if I should keep them 🙂

So here you are… swatches on NC25 skin if you’re wondering about the Shu Uemura Spring 2013 Collection.

My Physician’s Formula Happy Boosters Blush in Natural suffered a fall on my hard wood floor and this is the result

I decided to repress it as I don’t like loose blushes.

I started by emptying it out on a sheet of aluminum foil.

Then I started crushing the bits with a spoon.

I got it into a fine mixture. As you can see it is clumping in a sheet when I pressed it flat. This indicated to me that this blush might have binders in it already. Nonetheless I decided to add binders just in case it didn’t.

I used MyMix clear binder (from tkb trading).

Added about 2-3 drops.

I added 91% alcohol & starting mixing with my spoon until I got a paste.

I added 91% alcohol to coat the bottom of the pan.

Then I smooshed the paste into the pan. I let it dry & did a few pressed with my fingers & a kitchen towel.

Final product 🙂

Heavy swatch on left, light swatch on right.

My thoughts: I could have skipped the binder. I think by adding the binder, it made the blush have a almost powder/creme like texture. It also made it harder to get the color to show on me. Then again it might be the perfect natural blush for fairer complexions 😀

This is tiny! It’s $43 for 0.1 oz/ 3g so it’s definitely on the pricer side. It glides on well and goes sheer once you blend it out. It’s buildable so for the ladies who are afraid of clowny cheeks, a blush like this would work well. It’s a natural looking flush on my skin 🙂

Lasting power on me is moderate.

Is it worth the money? Not to me. I personally prefer blushes that are more pigmented.

You can buy this at Barneys or at beautybar.com I personally prefer beautybar as it’s free 1-2 day shipping. 🙂 Plus you can use these codes for additional % off!

This seems to be another item that had been discontinued by Smashbox although you can find it online at a number of etailers for a fraction of the original cost.

Smashbox Smashbox Double Exposure Lip & Cheek Color is supposed to bring an instant flush to your lips and cheek. It is also stated as suitable for all skin tones. The color Irresistible is described as a warm melon shade.

In the pan, this looks coral than watermelon pink. In fact, once I started looking at this, I just felt like I had dupes of this. I promptly went to my blush drawer & found two blushes that looks similar to this. The first is Bobbi Brown Calypso Coral Pot Rouge. The second would be Kevyn Aucoin Moist Glow in Tansoleil.

Here are some comparison pics.

As you can see, BB Calypso Coral looks very similar to SB Irresistible. Kevyn Aucoin’s Tansoleil looks just a tad lighter.

Once you swatch the product, the difference is apparent immediately. Smashbox Irresistible has the sheerest pigmentation amongst them all. It also feels the most emollient amongst them. In terms of pigmentation (tested by just one swipe with my finger), Bobbi Brown Calypso Coral is the most pigmented followed by Kevyn Aucoin Tansoleil, & lastly, Smashbox Irresistible. This might be great if you want something that is sheerer & am worried about looking clownish.

In the second swatch, you can see that Smashbox Irresistible looks the shiniest.

In the third swatch, you can see that they all look some what similar 😀 at least to me. For the average consumer, you probably will not need all three blushes!

As you can see, this is really pretty once it’s sheered out. 😀 On my cheeks (I apply using my MAC 109 to dab in the blush, then on my cheek, then buff), it’s a pretty coral color. Staying power of this baby is good. Minimal fading on me even after seven to eight hours.

Conclusion: This will probably go into my purge pile. Although this is a pretty color, I don’t feel like I love this. Plus I am big on pigmentation so I will rather keep a pigmented product which I can sheer out 😀

Yes, yes, yes. I know. The packaging is uber cheesy. I was one of the ones who said they will not buy anything from Tarina Tarantino because of the cheesy packaging. I don’t know about you but this blush casing looks like what a little girl playing dress up will have. Just saying

Nonetheless, I had 2 friends who bought it & loved it. So one day, as I was scrolling inside Sephora playing with the various displays, I decided to swatch this. And I bought it. I plead temporary insanity. 😛

On my cheeks (NC25 Asian), this is a gorgeous peachy pink flush. It’s really gorgeous. So gorgeous that I can forgive the cheesy packaging. It’s also surprisingly pigmented. I apply my blush mainly with my NARS yachiyo brush & sometimes I had to buff out this blush a little. Staying power is moderate.

Oh this is formulated without parabens.

Conclusion: This is a nice blush to have despite the cheesy packaging. Not a must have in my books.